Client: Mirant Corporation
Location: West Terre Haute, Indiana, United States
Project Type: New Generation - Combined Cycle
Contract Amount: $18,000,000 USD
Delivery Method: General Contracting
Project Size: N/A
Start Date: March 2002
Completion Date: February 2003
Architect/Engineer: Burns and McDonnell

Mirant - Sugar Creek Steam Turbine and HRSG

Mirant Corporation awarded Alberici Constructors a contract to build and erect two Vogt-New Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) and one GE D11 steam turbine/generator set at Mirant's Sugar Creek Generating plant in West Terre Haute.  Despite the area's history as a coal producer, the Sugar Creek plant is fueled solely by natural gas. The facility uses advanced combined-cycle technology, which captures steam emitted from natural gas electricity production to make additional electricity at a lower cost. 

When Alberici mobilized on the West Terre Haute, Indiana site in March of 2002, only the foundations were in place.  In just eleven months and 200,000 plus work-hours (without a lost time accident) later, Alberici installed the steam turbine and the 2 HRSG's were signed off and code stamped.

The project included over 30 lifts that were each more than 150 tons.  The project had several multiple crane lifts that had loads as heavy as 312,700 lbs.  In addition to the setting and rigging of the equipment, Alberici also installed all water and steam piping for the HRSG's which entailed the fabrication and erection of the stacks which were 175 ft tall.

Although the multiple heavy lifts proved to be difficult, the biggest challenge on this project was the schedule.  This was primarily due to the fact that the project had a very compressed schedule.  Unexpected delays at the inception of the project compounded the issue while maintaing the orginial completion date for the project.  We were able to successfully manage the schedule by quickly mobilizing our equipment on the site.  Additionally, we increased the size of the workforce to ensure this project was completed on schedule.